Finsbury’s London office teams up with Christina Mills

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Christina Mills

Finsbury’s London office has brought Christina Mills on board as a consulting partner; working through her recently founded consulting business Christina Mills Communications Ltd.

Mills moved to consulting after more than 20 years in senior in-houes roles spanning FMCG (SABMiller), natural resources (Rio Tinto) and financial services (NatWest and Abbey National).

Based in London, Mills will help to expand Finsbury’s global employee engagement and internal communications capability, a growing area of the business.

She will work closely with Michael Abrahams and Craig Horowitz in Finsbury’s New York office, along with Finsbury’s other international offices and German partner agency Hering Schuppener.

Mills said: “I’m thrilled to be working with such a class act as the Finsbury team. I’ve always been impressed with the quality of the people and the culture of the business, and it’s great to have an opportunity to contribute to its next stage of growth.”

Christina was a Finsbury client for 10 years, most recently as group director of communications and reputation at SABMiller, managing the global internal and external communications for the $100bn recommended acquisition of the company by Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Roland Rudd, chairman at Finsbury, added: “Christina’s a great fit for us. She brings a rare combination of truly global in-house skills and experience. She has led both internal and external communications for cross-border M&A, financial calendar work and corporate strategy across multiple sectors.”

Tin Man wins PR brief for Funkin Cocktails

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UK cocktail mixer brand Funkin Cocktails has hired creative comms agency Tin Man to launch a new range of cocktail mixers, following a competitive pitch.

Funkin Cocktails

Funkin, founded in the late 1990s, now operates under soft drinks company AG Barr and offers a range of cocktail purees, pre-batched mixers and syrups.

Tin Man’s remit is to launch Funkin Cocktails’ new range of cocktail mixers which lets consumers make “bar-quality cocktails” at home.

The PR programme will form part of an integrated comms campaign involving PR, digital and OOH activations.

Ben Anderson, Funkin’s head of marketing, said: “Home cocktail making is a big consumer trend and the new Shakers really address the problem of being stuck in the kitchen for hours making complicated cocktail recipes whilst everyone else enjoys the party.

“We were immediately excited by Tin Man’s approach – it was innovative and creative yet really results driven. We have big plans for Funkin and it’s great to have Tin Man with us on the journey to launch and beyond.”

Tin Man founder Mandy Sharp added: “Funkin has been synonymous with quality in the on-trade for many years, but this is its biggest off trade launch and PR campaign. It’s a fun and ambitious brand that looks to ‘shake up the ordinary’ and we’re excited about translating this in the consumer space.”

10 Yetis Digital to launch BettingTips4You and BiggestFreeBets

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Online betting tips provider BettingSpin has chosen 10 Yetis Digital to handle its PR, as part of a marketing drive to raise awareness for two of its sites; BettingTips4You and BiggestFreeBets.

BettingSpin

An online provider of free betting tips and odds enhancers, BettingSpin wants a dedicated PR campaign to launch the BettingTips4You and BiggestFreeBets brands to the market.

The ongoing appointment comes following a partnership between the agency and BettingSpin at the start of the year.

10 Yetis Digital will be responsible for creating a consumer-facing campaign to position BettingSpin’s two sites within lifestyle, consumer and sports sectors, while increasing brand awareness, driving traffic to both websites and generating coverage and SEO equity.

Ethan Rowe, editor-in-chief at BiggestFreeBets.com, said: “We’ve had a successful first campaign with the team at 10 Yetis and are excited to be continuing the partnership throughout 2017 and into 2018. The agency fully understands our brief and our objectives and have already secured us some great coverage and promising leads that we’ve been thrilled with.”

John Pentin, editor-in-chief for BettingTips4You.com, added: “Having seen some fantastic results already throughout January and February, we’re excited to see what coverage can be generated over the coming year and are confident that 10 Yetis are the agency to do just that.”

Andy Barr, founder of 10 Yetis Digital, commented: “It’s an exciting time for us, getting to work with BettingSpin. We have a lot of experience within the sectors that they want to target, have some great relationships in place, and we’re looking forward to utilising our skills for the advantage of the two sites.”

MAXIS chooses Citigate Dewe Rogerson

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MAXIS Global Benefits Network (GBN), the employee benefits network, has appointed Citigate Dewe Rogerson as its retained PR agency in the UK.

Jonathan Flint

Patsy Langridge, global director, marketing and communications at MAXIS GBN, said: “As well as demonstrating an excellent understanding of the global benefits marketplace and strong media contacts, the team at Citigate Dewe Rogerson has deep content development skills that will support the successful expansion of our thought leadership programme. We are looking forward to working in close partnership with them.”

MAXIS GBN recently established a new headquarters in London and is in the process of relaunching its customer portal and website.

Jonathan Flint, managing director at Citigate Dewe Rogerson, added: “It’s an exciting time for MAXIS GBN as it reshapes and grows its international business, and we are delighted to be chosen as its PR partner.”

Weetabix appoints Mercieca for corporate brief

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Weetabix has chosen Mercieca to manage its corporate and trade PR, as well as its trade advertising.

Weetabix breakfast cereal

Stuart Branch, group human resources director at Weetabix, said: “Weetabix is a much loved British brand, and Mercieca demonstrated throughout the pitch process its experience and knowledge of food and drink, coupled with an uncomplicated strategic approach.

“We need an agency that can help us integrate and step-change our PR to both external and internal audiences, whilst also delivering our trade messaging through creative advertising. Mercieca fits the bill perfectly.”

Gemma Oakes, PR director at Mercieca, added: “We’re delighted to be working with Weetabix. Our team’s passion for food and drink and ability to tailor PR and advertising campaigns for different audiences makes for a brilliant partnership with Weetabix. Activity is already underway.”

Sony hands retained PR brief to Fever

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Sony has appointed Fever as its retained UK PR agency to manage its smartphone and IoT products, following a competitive pitch.

Fever will work on the launch of the Sony XZ Premium

The appointment will see Fever work across Sony’s Xperia range. The agency’s remit includes press office and integrated brand campaigns.

Fever will work as part of Sony’s retained UK agency collective, working alongside Mediacom, Hey Human and Haygarth on the launch of the XZ Premium and the Xperia Touch, which were unveiled at MWC in Barcelona.

Paul Lucas, Fever board director, will lead the account.

Matt Beavis, head of PR, social media and sponsorships, UK & Ireland, said: “Fever are joining us at an incredibly exciting time.  Sony is once again at the forefront of innovation, bringing 4K HDR and super slow motion camera functionality to smartphones and creating projection technology that turns any surface into a touch screen with the release of the Xperia Touch.

“We’re really excited about implementing some of Fever’s pitch winning creative ideas over the coming months to help amplify the retail launch of these innovations.”

Lucas added: “From the release of the Walkman phone to the first camera phone with a flash and waterproofing smartphones, Sony has always challenged convention.  One mobile phone campaign often looks like another and we will be harnessing Sony’s historic challenger mentality to create stand out as we look to bring Xperia’s innovation story to the fore.”

APC appoints corporate comms manager

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The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) has appointed Liam O’Neill as corporate communications manager. Torque Agency Group will provide ongoing support.

Liam O’Neill

O’Neill’s background in automotive communications includes a global technology and innovation storyteller role at Jaguar Land Rover. He will work with APC’s existing communications team to drive the organisation’s future strategy.

Torque, an agency that specialises in automotive and tech communications, will support APC’s mission to strengthen the UK automotive industry’s capability to develop low emission technology, and will help to raise the profile of the country’s automotive innovators at several international exhibitions.

Jo Evans, marketing and communications manager at APC, said: “Our role is to nurture the development of all areas of low carbon innovation in the UK, and to promote the great work this country’s industry does to international stakeholders. Appointing Liam and working with Torque will allow our communications to thrive at home and abroad.”

The APC provides access to £1bn funding to support the collaboration between organisations that have innovative technologies and companies that can bring them to market.

Marco Ferrari, group director at Torque, added: “In recent years we have developed a unique portfolio of clients working in innovative areas such as low emissions power trains, as well as connected and autonomous vehicles. We’re delighted to be applying this expertise to help APC develop its global communications.”

Recent projects funded by APC include the Ford plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Transit Custom, and development of McLaren’s next-generation internal combustion technology.

ALMR chooses Fleet Street Communications

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Leisure, hospitality, food and drink consultancy Fleet Street Communications (FSC) has been appointed by the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) to handle its communications strategy.

Kate Nicholls

The ALMR campaigns on behalf of more than 200 member companies, and is celebrating its 25th year in 2017.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive at the ALMR, said: “We are delighted be working with FSC, who emerged from a highly competitive pitch situation. We are confident that their industry knowledge, expertise and connections in the sector, underpinned by their passion, will help us deliver on our mission to positively campaign and raise awareness of the issues that are paramount to our members, and the growth and success of their businesses.”

FSC will deliver a strategic communications plan designed to increase exposure for the organisation while communicating with key stakeholders including existing and new members. The consultancy will also build the ALMR’s profile as an authority in its industry.

Mark Stretton, managing director at FSC, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been appointed by the ALMR – an organisation with a compelling story to be told.”

Clarion appoints new SAD

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Clarion has appointed Cirkle’s Laura Oakley as a senior account director.

Laura Oakley

With 10 years FMCG PR experience, Oakley joins Clarion from Cirkle, where she was an account director.

Prior to Cirkle, she was at Burson-Marsteller for eight years and before that a regional journalist for Johnston Press.

Oakley has worked with brands including Morrisons and Danone Activia, as well as Mr Kipling, Homepride, and OXO.

Amanda Meyrick, Clarion CEO,  said: “We are delighted to have Laura on board. Her experience across trade and consumer PR for well-known consumer lifestyle brands is a perfect fit for Clarion and our clients.”

Hotwire CEO Brendon Craigie steps down

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Hotwire Group CEO Brendon Craigie has announced his resignation to pursue other interests.

Brendon Craigie

A successor is expected to be announced in “due course”.

In the interim, Hotwire’s global leadership team comprising of Alex MacLaverty, Barbara Bates, Andy West, Adrian Talbot and Heather Kernahan, will continue to lead the business and report to Enero Group CEO, Matthew Melhuish.

Melhish said: “Brendon has been a member of the Hotwire team for many years and we wish him success for the future. We have great confidence in the global leadership team to ensure the business continues to go from strength to strength.”

Craigie said: “I am proud to have been part of such an exciting business, with such an outstanding leadership team and culture. I believe Hotwire is in excellent shape as I move on to challenges new.”